Many companies aren’t aware of how much goes into managing your telecom expenses. Put your data into excel, look for nonconforming errors, and pay the bills. That’s all you need to do right? Wrong! If you truly want to prevent over spending and reduce your telecom expenses, you should know how to do so. The following 6 steps is a great start in properly managing your telecom expenses.

1. Get all your Data in One Place

Put documentation such as invoices, order changes, cancellations and additions on a spread sheet or web based telecom expense management software.

2. Keep Track of your Telecom Inventory

There are many devices that are part of your telecom inventory including telephones, data circuits, tablets, mobile phones and more. Organize these devices and keep track of the costs they are accumulating.

3. Audit your Invoices

By auditing your invoices, you can prevent paying unnecessary fees such as overages and incorrect setup fees.

4. Identify Zero or Low Use Telecom Users

Wireless vendors offer basic billing summary that you can use to identify users who are using their devices very little or not at all.

5. Implement a Wireless Strategy

6. Negotiate with you Vendor

Negotiating with your vendor is no easy task. You need to do your research! Learning how much competitors are paying will help you make a deal that is fair.

Managing your telecom expenses can be a complicated, timely task. The six steps above are a good start in trying to organize your telecom environment and receive optimal savings. If you want to take it one step further and take the responsibilities of telecom expense management off your shoulders all together, a TEM provider is waiting to help you do so.

About the Author: Jeff Poirior

Jeff brings 25 years of telecommunications and information technology management experience in voice and data networking, server support, and telephony and security; with a significant emphasis on customer service. Prior to joining Valicom, he was chief of the infrastructure support section for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Jeff was the vice president of operations for CC&N, overseeing telecommunications, help desk, data and desk side support services. Prior to that, he served as the associate director of technical resources for Covance, responsible for managing systems and network operations supporting 1700 users in Wisconsin and Virginia. He has also led data center operations at Magnetek Electric, supporting mainframe systems, client/server applications, telephony systems, and computer-aided design. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cardinal Stritch University and a master’s degree in business administration from University of Phoenix. In addition, Jeff is a past board member of the Wisconsin Telecommunication Association.